Plainview ISD names superintendent finalist

LAUREL L. SCOTT

Friday

Dec 21, 2012 at 11:07 AM

A Plainview High School alumnus has been named the lone finalist for superintendent of the Plainview Independent School District.

Donald Rockwell "Rocky" Kirk - Class of 1977 - was the unanimous choice of the board of trustees, which met Thursday evening to name a candidate to replace longtime Superintendent Ron Miller, who is retiring after a 40-year career with the Hale County district.

Kirk also comes with nine years of experience as superintendent of the Lake Travis Independent School District in the Austin area. Since 2011, he has served as the founding president of Trianthem, an Austin-based executive and organizational development consulting firm.

"Dr. Kirk is well known in the education community as a forward-thinking, innovative leader with excellent communication and leadership skills, who maintains his and his staff's focus on student achievement," Plainview ISD board President Brandon Brownlee said in a news release.

Under his leadership, Lake Travis ISD went from being rated by the Texas Education Agency as "academically acceptable" to the top rank of "exemplary." In 2005, Kirk was the Education Service Center Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and a finalist for Texas Superintendent of the Year.

Kirk earned a bachelor of science degree from Texas Tech and a master of administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Sam Houston State University in East Texas.

He rose through the ranks at the Houston-area Spring Independent School District, where he served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent of Lake Travis ISD. Brownlee has said he and the board members began the process of searching for a new superintendent about six months ago.

"I feel confident that we vetted the candidates very completely and conducted an in-depth and exhaustive process to obtain the most qualified and best candidate to assist Plainview ISD in facing the challenges of the future," Brownlee said.

Plainview ISD has an enrollment of more than 5,700 students across 12 campuses. The district was rated academically acceptable in 2011, the last year for which TEA ratings are available.

"We have engaged in full and frank discussions with Dr. Kirk and are very comfortable with our selection of him and with his vision for our school district," Brownlee said. "We are excited about the prospect of Dr. Kirk serving as our superintendent and we know that we are very lucky that Dr. Kirk has chosen this time and this place to return to active educational administration."

Under state law, a school district can keep the names of superintendent candidates confidential but must name a "lone finalist" 21 days before the actual hiring.

Miller said Kirk is expected to start the position the first of February after completion of the mandatory waiting period.

To comment on this story:

laurel.scott@lubbockonline.com

• 766-8796

leesha.faulkner@lubbockonline.com

• 766-8706

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